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Summer is for free time, barbecues and family vacations, but school officials warn that summer is for anything but doing nothing. Children out of school for the summer can be at risk for losing a chunk of what they learned during the school year and falling further behind if they don’t get away from the television and pick up some books.
"Reading is the most important because along with the reading it also challenges their mind to daydream and have fun that way instead of just being in front of the television," said Greg Hudnall, student services director for Provo School District.
According to research compiled by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning, most students will lose about two months of grade level equivalency in math over the summer if they don't participate in some sort of educational activity. The research also shows that students in lower socio-economic brackets are less likely to be engaged during the summer, which can lead to long-term difficulty. "I think summertime is an easy time to get lazy," Hudnall said. "Kids who are struggling in school already, if they're not actively engaged in the summer, they fall behind that much more." To stop the summer learning loss, Hudnall recommends parents keep children involved by giving them something to do every day, such as taking them on trips and letting them explore. Being out of school has educational benefits. "Personally, I think summer break is good for children and it's good for families because it gets them out of the classroom," Hudnall said. He suggested parents try activities that get children to read, use their brain power or explore new things. "Trips to the library are golden. Our communities have great libraries. "When children get engaged in reading and using their literacy skills, that's just extremely valuable," said Gary Seastrand, student services director in Alpine School District. Provo Library's summer reading program has already begun, but there are still several activities available for families. A calender can be accessed at www.provo.lib.ut.us/kids/kids_main.html. Children's librarian Chantelle Walther recommended reading together. "Family reading time is always an excellent way to get your child to make a life-long habit," Walther said. Seastrand said the kind of engagement kids need can be found in ordinary tasks with an educational twist. "I think a lot of it is just everyday experiences and saying how can I turn this into a learning opportunity -- even Lagoon is full of physics," Seastrand said. He said parents can teach their children fractions, practice math in the grocery store and play word games on car trips. One activity Seastrand steered away from was prolonged hours in front of the television. "I am not an advocate for long hours in front of a television or playing video games," Seastrand said.
• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at
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For Things to Do in Utah County go visit our Summer activities list
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